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March 2013 News

Regional daily goes ‘red top’ for the day

First colour change in almost 20 years for ad campaign

Reporter takes on marathon bid in mother’s memory

Journalist aiming to raise £1,000 for Children with Cancer UK

Six to do battle for regional sportswriter prize

Six sports journalists have been shortlisted for the top regional prize in this year’s Sports Journalism Awards. The annual awards will be handed out at a gala dinner on Monday 25 March at the Grand Connaught Rooms in central London.

Country-wide clean-up launched by daily

Thousands of volunteers being sought for Big Spring Clean

First-ever Photographers’ Council launched by NUJ

A dedicated Photographers’ Council has been launched by the National Union of Journalists in a bid to improve representation for photojournalists and videojournalists. The nationally-elected council will be made up of working journalists and will be the first ever arm

Pennines to get hyperlocal online TV station and mag

Businessmen aims to provide North West community with a voice

Regional newspaper MD opts for early retirement

Role set to be divided up between publishers

Mystery beast snap leads to website boom for weekly

Photographs of the unknown creature went viral after being published

Yorkshire and Humber Awards return for fifth year

O2 event will celebrate ‘quality, new media and originality’

Weekly editors locked up for fundraising stunt

Participants had to raise £1,000 bail before release

Ex-journalists team up for Second World War book

Publication tells story of journalist’s letters to home

Former reporter returns to Midlands daily as editor

New boss will take over in May

Twitter campaign launched to save axed editor’s job

Johnston Press urged to think again over weekly news chief

Editor fires starting pistol as deputy runs half marathon

The editor of a weekly paper fired the starting pistol to kick-off a half marathon in which 11,000 people – including her own deputy – took part. Lynne Fernquest, who leads the Bath Chronicle, started the Bath Half Marathon in

Charlton quits Yorkshire editorships after 40-year career

Long-serving news chief to step down in May

Entries open for Midlands Media Awards

New categories for blogger and website

Tips on choosing a journalism course

Emma Clark, former marketing and communications manager for the National Council for the Training of Journalists, offers her advice on choosing between journalism courses.
Recently I've attended numerous careers fairs around the country, meeting students of all ages keen to break into journalism - whether that be in newspapers, television, radio or magazines. And of course, all students want to know which journalism course they should go on and whether they need NCTJ qualifications.

A quick look at the trainee job ads on HTFP demonstrates the importance of gaining the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. Many adverts require candidates to have, or be awaiting results for, their NCTJ Diploma.

Trying to break into the industry without it makes a tough task almost impossible. With the rise in tuition fees, choosing the right journalism course is even more important than ever and students need to be sure they are learning the vocational skills required by employers, enabling them to hit the ground running when they enter the newsroom.

Employers know that an NCTJ-trained applicant will be able to find and construct stories, understand media law and ethics and be able to take down an accurate shorthand note when required. And contrary to popular belief it is not just the regional press looking for these skills, but nationals, online and broadcast too. Recent Sky Sports News schemes, for example, have been looking for practical skills including a minimum of 100wpm shorthand.

Student journalists can complete their NCTJ training in a number of ways - FE colleges and independent centres offer the Diploma in Journalism as fast-track and academic year courses, while universities offer it as part of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. All of these journalism courses lead to the same NCTJ qualifications and meet the same standard, allowing students to pick the one that's best for them.

It's no secret that the NCTJ has an exacting standard, and this applies not just to the qualifications but also to the course provider. All NCTJ-accredited courses have to work incredibly hard to meet the requirements in the same way that students have to work incredibly hard to achieve the gold standard. This ensures the NCTJ logo acts as a meaningful kitemark for quality journalism training.